Colombian striker to face manslaughter charges

COLOMBIAN international Jairo Castillo has been accused of manslaughter and faces up to nine years in jail after being involved in a car accident which killed two women, officials said on Wednesday.

Colombian public prosecutors said they had issued an arrest warrant for the striker, who has just joined Italian second division club Genoa.

Castillo, who played as a substitute in last week's World Cup qualifying defeat by Peru, is currently in a hospital in the southwestern city of Cali where he is recovering from minor injuries sustained in the accident.

Police said six people were travelling in the vehicle driven by Castillo when it collided with a taxi and then rammed into an electricity pole at around half past six on Sunday morning.

Two sisters, Katherine and Claudia Ojeda, died, while the other four occupants of the vehicle were injured.

Castillo, who played for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina last season, was due to travel to Italy this week to join his new club.